In order to shift from coal to eco-friendly energy, Beijing may increase imports of gas from the current 53 billion cubic meters per year to 190-270 billion, said CNPC International Department head Li Yueqiang.

"Despite the fact the Chinese economy has entered a new stage, and there has been growth slowdown, the demand for gas will increase. This corresponds to the concept of green development of the Chinese economy and the reduction of pollutant emissions," RIA Novosti quotes Li Yueqiang as saying.

According to the CNPC manager, in 2015 China used 200 billion cubic meters of gas, of which a quarter was imported.

Russia will be one of the main providers of the natural gas increasingly needed by China.

The countries are already building the Power of Siberia pipeline, or the so-called eastern route, which will deliver 38 billion cubic meters of Russian gas to China annually.

Moscow and Beijing have also been talking about building another pipeline, the Power of Siberia-2, or the western route to deliver an additional 30 billion cubic meters of gas to China annually. Even though the pipeline hasn’t been officially launched, Gazprom is already preparing the infrastructure, Vedomosti daily reported in July.